Submitted by Rob Ackerman, Principal of Job Lane Elementary School
Twelve Lane Elementary School fifth grade students, along with five school staff and two parents, traveled from Bedford to Brighton to volunteer at Cradles to Crayons early this week.
Lane School Guidance Counselor Kristen Lerra and Jessica Smith carefully planned the trip to provide a lesson beyond the classroom walls.
Lerra noted that “applying the lessons of showing empathy which is a theme that we have been working on at Lane with our students,” and identified that the best part of the trip as watching the students thrive at the various jobs they were given. “It is so important to see our students being successful in an area that is outside the walls of our school.” Smith added that being with the kids and having fun seeing how hard [the kids] worked was the best part of her day.”
How did the kids, all in grade 5, see the best part of the day?
- “Helping cleaning the shoes and working as a team and putting together 215 pairs of shoes” – Hailey
- “The feeling that you get when you are changing peoples lives and knowing that we helped 215 kids.” – Dominic
- “Going to Cradles to Crayons and helping out cleaning shoes.” – Jonn
- “Finding out that I was helping out kids by cleaning shoes.” – Chance
Teaching Assistant (TA) Susanne Monihan loved “The kids’ enthusiasm and their commitment to working as a team.” While TA Mimi Johnson was impressed by “staff and students working together and making a difference
This was such a powerful experience for everyone involved,” said Assistant Principal Keith Kinney. “From student to staff, including myself, seeing the compassion and enthusiasm that everyone demonstrated would make both our learning community and the Bedford community as a whole more than proud.
“When you have such wonderful students and staff working hard together to better them selves and the community around them,” Kinney continued, “there is no doubt that Bedford is a special place to learn, live and work. Volunteering at Cradles to Crayons was one of the many ways that our community comes together to help those who are less fortunate.”
And Principal Rob Ackerman summed up the experience when he said, “This trip brings to mind what standardized tests will never be able to measure. Learning experiences such as today’s visit stay in kids’ hearts and minds.”
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